Rachel is currently in the ICU, post-surgery.  I haven’t received an official detailing from anyone yet, but according to the Twitter and Facebook feeds of a friend who is there with her, the surgeon’s report was good.

In Mary Jane’s words, “Surgery went well and most of the tumor out! Also they believe it is a low grade tumor which is very, very, very good.”

A ‘low-grade tumor’ means that the tumor cells are well differentiated.  And because I took a test over cancer today, I know that means that the cells in the tumor aren’t very different from the cells in the surrounding brain tissue.  Meaning that the changes weren’t very dramatic.  That usually indicates good things.

I also assume from that report that they found the tissue to be benign, not cancer.  I only say that because Rachel told me they were going to take “95% of it if it’s benign, 100% if it’s cancerous.”  I don’t know this for sure, but I assume the 5% they were going to leave would be the edges of the tumor, so as to not scrape out a whole heap of grey matter while they were pulling out the tumor.  That’s just speculation, though.

I’ll update this post as I get more information.  Thanks again for all of your love and prayers and support, both for Rachel and for me.  Much love.

UPDATE: 10/06/10

Rachel didn’t rest very well last night, and she’s in a lot of pain.  Her family is there at the hospital with her and taking good care of her.  She has been moved out of the ICU, which is a great sign, but they’re having trouble managing her pain levels, which isn’t good.  Swelling can increase until about 72 hours after surgery, and swelling is painful.

Brain surgery does weird things to people.  For instance, Rachel has taken to spelling things at people.  Yesterday she was spelling all her words, and then saying that the letters were trying to kill her.  The drugs + the surgery have turned my friend into an alphabet conspiracy theorist.  She also won’t use conjunctions like “they’re” or “don’t,” because she says they hurt her head.

I’m glad for her safety, and I’m glad to hear that the tumor wasn’t very enmeshed with her brain tissue.  But it’s pretty hard to know that someone you love is in a world of hurt.  Dealing.  We love you, Rachel.